HIJRA

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, United Kingdom I 2025 I Arabic dialogue with English subtitles l 115 min

ABOUT FILM

Saudi director Shahad Ameen continues to establish her international presence with her feature film “Hijra”, which has received widespread critical acclaim since its world premiere. The film debuted at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival (2025) in the Venice Spotlight section, drawing attention for its bold style and deeply human approach. It was awarded the NETPAC Prize for Best Asian Film, an international recognition of its artistic value and transnational vision.

“Hijra” explores the concept of migration as an existential condition before it is a geographical movement, tracing a personal journey that intersects questions of identity, the body, belonging, and liberation. Shahad Amin does not approach the topic from a direct political perspective; instead, she employs a sensory narrative that relies on image, rhythm, and emptiness, where movement, silence, and gaze become essential tools to express a complex internal struggle.

The film is distinguished by its intense visual language and its ability to transform spaces into psychological extensions of the characters. The camera is close and contemplative, giving the body full presence as the primary site of confrontation with social and cultural constraints. The narrative unfolds calmly and confidently, refusing direct explanation, inviting the audience to engage emotionally and intellectually with the experience.

Following its Venice screening, “Hijra” continued its successful trajectory, winning the AlUla Film Award for Best Saudi Film by Audience Vote at the Red Sea International Film Festival (2025), highlighting both its emotional resonance with viewers and critical recognition. The film was also selected to represent Saudi Arabia in the 2026 Academy Awards, further affirming its status as one of the most significant Arab films of the year.

At the Malmö Arab Film Festival, “Hijra” offers a contemporary and daring cinematic experience, inviting audiences to discover a film that transcends traditional storytelling, raises urgent questions about identity and transformation, and speaks with a global cinematic language and profound human sensibility.